Back to School

Well, its that time of year again when students head back to school. I was no exception back in 1986 as I headed off to WLU for my 1st year as an undergraduate student.

Its funny the things you remember...in particular, I remember how much I wanted my parents to disappear so i could "get on with it"...the "it" part being "the rest of my life". At the time - attending University was the culmination of everything that I had been working towards. My folks did leave - but it wasn't that long (maybe once I had recovered from Frosh Week) that I called to update them on everything that had gone on and how excited I was to finally be a University student.

Now that I work/teach at a University - I see this ritual played out year after year. Its actually fun to watch - things change...but as you all know...many things stay the same - in particular, the wish for every young adult to just "get on with it".

I look back at the fresh face of mine in 1986 and wonder to myself...would I go back and do it all over again if I could? The answer is a definate YES!

Stay Thirsty.

PS> not that anyone is really following my blog...but my apologies for the delay in posts....busy time of year as you can imagine.

Lowrider...

As promised, today's post pic is me on my motorcycle with one of my good friends Lisa M. I have worked in the Middle East with Lisa on several different projects - so we know each other under stressful situations - which makes for a great friendship.

Anyways - Lisa loved the bike and we went on a very long ride all around the Niagara region. On the day she arrived, we did a massive wine tour - which suprisingly enough, Lisa had never done before. After about 9 different wineries, it was back to the cottage and a lovely fish dinner - drinks - and relaxing.

Good food, good friends = good times. Who could ask for anything more.

Stay Thirsty!

In Vino Veritas

This coming weekend our friend Lisa will be paying a visit to our trailer down in Niagara. Purpose - to visit as many wineries in one day as we possibly can. Lisa has never been on a wine tour before so this should be fun. She is back from Jordan and in desparate need of some R&R time. Today's pic is from an earlier tour Tara and I did on our own back in July of 2005 - July 15th to be exact.

This picture has a lot of good stuff in it. Our little yellow "taxi" - 2004 Chevy Aveo (which is paid for as of October this year...yipee!. The large wine goblet Tara is holding was given to us by my father back around 1993 or so. On the table is an assortment of cheeses, meats and so on. Of particular note is my favourite - Vienna Sausages from Grace Foods. Finally - we are on a picnic table right across from our favourite winery - Reif Estate (check them out here) I recommend their Pinot Noir. I have a bottle of the 2000 vintage waiting for a VERY special event.

I may blog about our tour this Sunday next week - this blog is taking on a more dynamic nature - so be it!

STAY THIRSTY!

Reflecting the fictional past...

If you don't know the show "Mad Men" this post may make no sense to you. They have a promotional program on their website that allows you to create a "stylized" version of your 1950's self. The picture here is what I turned out like. I could totally see myself drinking a martini and talking about the fashionable swim attire of the 1950's in front of a room of my fellow co-workers (all male of course) - really....I could!

Well - perhaps that is just a bit too much fiction for one day.

STAY THIRSTY (and if you live in Ontario....stay warm!)

Everthing is Irie in Jamaica

Ok - flashback to summer, 1970 and my first trip to Jamaica - where my mother comes from. I actually remember bits and pieces of this trip. One of my strong memories is the swimming. This picture was taken in the water right in front of the house my uncle had rented for this trip. It was in Discovery Bay - a beautiful spot that I revisited this past January. Nothing beats the warm water surrounding Jamaica....nothing! I do wish we could have some of that warmth here in Toronto soon - otherwise, this summer will be a bust!

The family trip to Jamaica in 1970 (all my uncles and aunts and cousins were there) has a place of honour in family lore. Its an event that defined us as a family and continues to morph into legendary status everytime we get together - which is more rare as time goes by. Family is important - no matter what form it takes - for myself personally my family is the most important thing, despite how much we are separated by time and space. My family continues to expand (which is the greatest thing ever!) - and its the activities that we participate in together that brings us together and creates those "common adventures" that keeps us together.

I am so blessed...

STAY THIRSTY!

Accountability

Todays picture is from the year 2004. The key theme for this picture is all about accountability. My daughter (as is human nature) has the tendancy to shift blame to anyone but herself. We are all guilty of it...but when it comes right down to it - what makes us better people is the degree to which we take responsibility for our actions (in all the forms it can take).

When I saw one of my students wearing this shirt while excavating in Jordan - I begged her to give it to me so I could give it to my daughter. Getting home after being away for 2 months in the desert - its great to have a gift that you KNOW the recipient is going to love. My daughter wore this shirt for a week straight I think. It was definately one of my favourites.

Its funny what people will wear, put on their car bumpers, name their boats, tatoo on their bodies, etc. Its all about marketing...what we subscribe to, what we believe in and so on. It is so important to us as individuals - that we want others to know it to. We want it to define us. Sometimes thats a good thing - sometimes not...but at any rate "whatever it is...I didn't do it"!

STAY THIRSTY.

Living one day at a time...

First of all - I need to apologize for not updating the blog. This is one of the things that I find particularly troublesome - that is - finding time to actually "blog" about stuff. When I read other blogs and they are so creative and full of information and so on - what really impresses me are those people that are consistant in posting. Either - they have a lot to say and time to say it - OR - they just don't lead busy lives. For me - its the busyness of life that gets in my way.

Ok - so on to todays picture. This one comes from 1998 - November to be exact. As you can tell from the picture, I was in a bad car accident. In West Virginia of all places! To answer your question of "what happened" - I'll try to keep this brief. Bottom line - myself and two of my friends were driving down to Orlando to go to an academic conference (American Schools of Oriental Research if you must know). On the way I got tired and asked my friend Debra to drive for a bit while I got some shut-eye. Well - next thing I know we are spinning in the air and I end up half outside the back of the car unable to feel my legs. Obviously everything worked out fine - but it was a harrowing experience that brought the three of us together to be friends for life.

Its amazing what you remember and dont remember about trumatic events. What I do remember is being thankful to be alive - I remember Debra crying thinking that she had killed us - I remember Steve being all proud of himself for holding on to the music tape we were listening to - I remember the cab driver (ex Viet Nam vet) who was using an old YooHoo container as a spitoon - I remember being taped to the body board and riding in the ambulance - etc etc. What I don't remember is how it felt to be completely helpless. I don't remember the pain. I don't remember the cost of replacing the vehicle. And so on. One thing that I do remember that I'll never forget...is the sound of crunching metal. Any of you who have been in an accident - you know what I am talking about.

Until next time...STAY THIRSTY!

Summer? Winter? I am totally confused...

Today I need to vent a little bit. The picture I uploaded today comes from the recent past - March 9th, 2008. It was the biggest snowstorm in one day we had out in Mississauga since we moved there. I am using my snowblower which I bought the year before...and man, there is no going back once you own one.

My reason for posting this one today is because of the crappy weather we have been having around the GTA this summer. I mean - its supposed to be in the low 30's, but we are lucky to hit 22 degrees. Even at that...the wind is cool...so you dont really feel like its summer...its more like fall or early spring.

My tomato plants are doing poorly, I don't have a tan...and worst of all...when I ride my motorcycle I have to wear a jacket. When will the craziness end!?

Finally - looking at this picture makes me miss my big red truck. While I am happy with the diesel Grand Cherokee...I do miss the truck's imposing size on the road. Now I am just another one of the many cars/SUV's on the highway.

If anyone has pull with the powers that be....can you please request that we get a bit more heat this summer?

STAY THIRSTY!

Todays picture is an "artsy" B&W shot I took when I was backpacking through Turkey in late July, 1988. The reason for todays picture is because through Facebook - one of my friends Paulo uploaded a pic he came across (see the end of this post). I was really taken with it - so much so that it is now the background for my desktop.

The region that is being displayed here is called Cappadocia (you can check out the wiki article here). The rock formations you see in these photos are called "fairy chimneys". A really neat geological formation that is the result of years of erosion. The entire landscape is dotted with these features - quite amazing. What is perhaps even more amazing is the fact that the region is littered with cave complexes from a variety of periods - the most significant and largest of which date to the 1st and 2nd C. AD. I had the opportunity to tour one of these "underground cities" - complete with stables, kitchens, defense systems, etc.

One particular event I recall from my visit to Cappadocia occurred while having apple tea in one of the rest houses in a tiny village. It was around noontime and everything was quiet until I heard an odd tune coming from the mineret (tower associated with a mosque). It wasn't the call to prayer...I know what that sounds like...this was oddly familiar. After a few seconds I recognized it...it was the same tune that Via Rail uses to begin its PA announcements at all of its rail stations. Try as I might to find a copy of the tune online to include with this post - I couldn't find one. But the next time any of you are travelling the Via Rail system...you'll know what I mean. What came next was someone yelling in the speaker (obviously in Turkish...which I don't understand at all). I asked the local server what the person was saying and he told me "oh...that's just so and so (insert Mohammad or Mehmet here) calling so and so (insert Mohammad or Mehmet here) for their lunch." I was flabergasted....I thought the minnerets were only to be used for religious purposes...but apparently in Cappadocia...they do double duty. A kind of Turkish - "I think I hear your mother calling you...." kind of thing.

STAY THIRSTY

Blackwater Trio and WLU

When: November 2007
Where: The Manulife Financial Sportsplex
Who: Blackwater Trio (Fred Hale, Janet Hale and Ken Munshaw)
Why: Fundraiser for K-W Junior Ringette

Ok - so this picture will take a bit of explaining to do. The reason why I have put it up is two-fold. First - Blackwater Trio is a great local band and I went to University with these guys. Second - its our 20th year reunion from our undergrad days at Wilfrid Laurier University and its a tradition that Blackwater Trio plays on the Saturday night at the campus pub.

My friend Terry (see previous post) has been bugging me to make sure we get tickets to see them play - so I did that today (great deal at $10 each) - so he is happy - but it made me think about the band members some more, hence why I put the picture up.

Its not a great picture...cheap digital cameras don't handle the dark very well..but you can clearly see both Janet and Fred ripping out the tunes on stage. I went to school with both of them - they are great people. Fred worked in Residence with me in my last year and thats how I came to know him. Janet was in the same year as me and hung out with a lot of the same friends...she had/has a beautiful voice and can sing a variety of genres - from opera to funk (though I have never heard her sing funk actually...I am sure she could do it!)

I am just back from vacation so my mind is a bit "frayed" coming back to all this email.

STAY THIRSTY!

Vacation and Camping

Today we are off for our annual summer family vacation - which over the past few years has meant "camping"! This is a picture of Emma cooking up some popcorn from our camping trip - Labour Day weekend (September 9th) 2006. We decided to go camping near to home at Bronte Creek Provincal Park. It was Emma's first time sleeping in a tent all on her own and she loved it.

What I remember from that weekend is that the weather was particularly uncooperative as were the local teenagers who decided to stage an all night piss-up next to our campsite. For the first time ever, I had to call the Provincal Police to come in and kick them out - which of course they didn't do...but gave them a strong warning - duh! welcome to Canada.

Anyways - we love camping - it enables us to get out of the city and relax in the "wild". But there are various levels of camping. What you see here is something mid-range that most people can relate to. A propane portable BBQ, the ever-handy Coleman stove, tents, air mattress (inside the tent!), etc. This is vastly upgraded compared to camping in say - Algonquin Park and having to canoe in all of your gear. There you have to bring freeze-dried food, etc. I have never done that but someday I would like to give it a whirl.

Camping for us today, however, is about going down to Shalamar Lake campground where we keep our 5th Wheel trailer. It has air conditioning, a fridge, stove, toilet, and so much more. We sleep on a queen size bed - have a flat screen TV and sound system. Essentially - its our cottage but at a fraction of the price. I know its not really camping anymore...but really - what is camping other than an excuse to build a fire and sit around it telling stories. That's something that every human being around the planet can relate to I think. It returns us to our primal roots.

Stay Thirsty!

Antony and Cleopatra

I was reading the newspaper today and came across an article about how a couple lost their children in some sort of accident and they found comfort/love in the form of two dogs they had acquired soon after. So - I thought I would flip up a picture of the two cats we had for many years - Cleo (the black one) and Tony (the orange one).

We lost Cleo when we moved out to Mississauga - and then we lost Tony (our favourite) last summer. I am not a huge pet person - but I can totally see how people can get attached to animals (some more so than others). As to the medical benefits of having pets - of that I am certain - lonliness is one of the worst diseases we as humans face. We NEED each other in so many ways - and when that's not possible, certainly an animal "stand-in" will do.

But on the other hand - pets can be a real pain in the ass. My neighbours have this little dog they leave outside most of the day. Whenever I go outside the thing runs up to the fence and barks its head off...this makes working outside (which I have a lot to do today) very aggrevating.

This picture was taken around 1994 - we had just moved into our first home in Oshawa (you can tell its new - very little furniture and no paint on the walls). We loved that house, but it was just too far away from everything.

Ok - I am off to be a carpenter for the morning...wish me luck!

Big Shoes To Fill

Today my daughter graduates from Grade 7! I can't believe it - can she really be that old? It seems like just yesterday I was feeding her really gross baby food (green peas? yuck!) and changing diapers (I was pretty good...once I got the hang of it). All the same, this morning she left the house and I congratulated her on finishing Grade 7 with honours and distinction (she won 7 awards - academic and leadership based).

It got me to thinking though - expectations aside...what kind of shoes is she going to fill? (mind you...she has pretty big feet, so it shouldn't be a problem) I shy away from asking her what she is wanting to be when she grows up because everytime I do she says something silly like - "I want to be a singing archaeologist" - which as you can imagine could be a challenging combination. Nevertheless, as she gets older it is becoming clear that she is making some plans and setting goals for herself - that is what makes me proud! She is creating her own shoes to fill...not the ones that I have made for her - and that's the way it should be.

Ok - now on to the picture. This photo was taken sometime in late 1997 or early 1998 when we were living on Sussex Ave. in Toronto while I was in grad school. She is wearing her mothers shoes (and is a habit that she hasn't quite shaken as I hear discussions all the time about shoe borrowing around the house). On the floor you can see books - which isn't suprising since she is a voracious reader now...going through books like they are nothing. Though I do question her recent facination with vampires and warewolves...whatever happened to the Romans!!??

The years we lived on Sussex were some of the best for us...and while it was graduate student living...meagre bugdgets, long nights at the library and in the lab - it was all worth it.

We all have big shoes to fill - the expectations of our parents, our friends, our children...but most importantly - ourselves. The degree to which we are able to balance all of that and stay sane...is the degree to which we are truly satisfied and productive members of society.

Stay Thirsty....

I Am Mesha, Son of Chemosh...

Todays picture reflects two separate "pasts". This is a picture that I took of a replica (the original is in the Louvre in Paris - which I got to see in 2002 - see pic below) of the Mesha Stele (I'll get to that in a moment) sometime in the summer of 1988 at the British Museum (my first - and so far only visit there). The Mesha Stele or 'Moabite Stone' was originally constructed sometime in the 9th C. BCE by King Mesha of Moab and rediscovered in Dhiban in 1868. I am not going to recount the entire history of this inscription - for that you can check out the wikipedia article - its pretty good and relatively accurate.








I guess what is most striking about this first photo (1988) is that my reason for taking it was because I thought it was an interesting artifact...little did I know at that time that I would persue doctoral studies that focused almost entirely on the land of Moab (located in the modern day country of Jordan) - and spend 10 years excavating there.

I am sure as time goes by I will produce a significant number of images from my 'adventures' in Jordan - they continue and I hope to be in the field again next year. You can check out the website of the main project I have been involved with there - the Tell Madaba Archaeological Project if you are interested.

Best Friends...

Today I want to look at the idea of what is meant by the word "friends". First off - this picture is an easy one to identify. It was taken during the first week of September way back in 1988 outside the Eaton Centre. I can remember this day as clearly as if it happend just a few weeks ago. The picture is of myself (middle) and my two best friends - Terry (left) and Bruce (right). All three of us were "Dons" in residence at University and its where we met. We had just finished "Dons Camp" and were wrapping up "Frosh Week" when Bruce and Terry decided to "kidnap" me for a roadtrip into the city. I got into the car under the pretense of a trip to the beer store...little did I know that that roadtrip would be the beginning of a lifelong friendship that continues to this day.

Friends are those people who you turn to for advice - they are the once who will accept you for who you are and the ones who will give it to you straight with no bulls*^t! Friends are the people you can call once a year and it doesn't make a difference. Friends are the people who you know that if everything else crumbles around you - they will be there - no matter what. To me - that is what friendship is.

Fortunately (or unfortunately - depending on how you look at it) - you only get the opportunity to establish a few friendships in your life. Yes, you can have alot of "friends" (small 'f'), but if you stop and think about it...most people have only a few "Friends" (capital 'F').

My friendship with Terry and Bruce is very important to me - I guard it very jealously. In 2007 we all turned 40 (I was the first...and therefore, the oldest and wisest of the three men - something I am sure the others would dispute - not the oldest part...you can't help that...its the "wisest" part I think they would have trouble with). We went on a cruise together for d days down to Mexico - what a blast, and I am sure I'll eventually get around to one of those pictures eventually.

So back to the picture at hand - some of the things I notice are the clothes we are wearing...how 1980's. Bruce is wearing the shorts they gave us for "Frosh Week" - the ugliest things I have ever seen...but he wore them well. The other thing I notice is how freakishly skinny I am. Oh - to go back to those days...perhaps someday!

Finally - Bruce is holding in his hand his wallet. Just before this picture was taken, Terry had grabbed Bruce's wallet and threw it into a "reflecting pool"...thoroughly soaking it. I can't remember why he did it...but knowing Bruce and Terry...I am sure it had to do with Terry calling Bruce cheap or some such thing. Too funny.

I will never forget that day - it was glorious...it was sunny...we were young and had our whole lives ahead of us. Sometimes its good to go back to spots like that in your mind and take a bit of a vacation from all the responsibilities and worries of life. We were all young once...

Until next time.

Fathers Day

I hope everyone had a good weekend - especially all of you who are fathers. My choice for picture today is clearly related to the proximity of fathers day. First off - I am (like I think most dad's are) very proud of my daughter. Even though her and I don't see eye to eye on everything, I know deep down we have a very special relationship that only a father and daughter can have. So when I look at this picture, I think of all sorts of things - some I can share with you - others, I have to keep to myself.

Part of the fun of this exercise is (as I have mentioned in a previous post) trying to figure out just when and where a picture was taken. At first glance - you tend to say "I have no idea"...but then when you concentrate...its amazing the details that will come back to you.

This picture was taken sometime during the summer of 1997 - most likely August. We (my wife, daughter and I) were up visiting my parents who were living in Lindsay at the time at a Condo that had a lovely swimming pool. It was a great day of playing around by the pool...I recall a particularly stimulating game of shuffleboard as well (it was a retirement condo after all).

That summer (1997) was particularly fun-filled for me as I was fortunate to have 4 months of relaxation before heading back to grad school. I had just left THE BANK (those of you who know me...know why thats in caps) and was waiting for classes to begin in the new phase of my worklife. Not many fathers get to have such uninterrupted time with their children at such a young age. I consider myself fortunate. And for all of you out there who have yet to become fathers...if you get the chance to take some parental leave...do it.

"We shall never surrender..."

Sorry for not posting yesterday, as I was commenting to one of my friends (Annlee - she was in the last post) this morning - one of the challenges of blogging is the idea of consistancy. You have to remember to do the post...eventually it becomes second nature...but as things get busy, other things slip. Ok - so I think I have expressed myself enough on that.

Todays picture is a special one for me. This is my grandfather, my mothers father. The picture was taken in my room when we were living in Unionville. I don't remember exactly the date of the photo, but it would have been sometime in the spring of 1986 - when I was in Grade 13. The calender on the wall shows the month of April. My grandfather was living with us at that time and his room was just down the hall from mine. It was great having him with us. He passed away about 10 years ago or so at the age of 101. He had a profound influence on my life and I cherish the time we spent together. He was constantly giving me advice and is the person responsible for introducing me to Winston Churchill (hence the title for this blog post) - one of the greatest leaders of our time.

Other things that are noticeable in this picture are some of things I have pinned to the wall of my room and on the shelves over my desk. Some items that I see in the background make me smile. The transition from childhood to adulthood is a slow one (if ever really achieved!) - and the "brick 'o brack" that we surround ourselves with is the "evidence" that betrays our intimate thoughts and desires. For example - on the shelf over my desk is an empty Carlsberg beer bottle. Its the stubby kind (which you cant get anymore in Canada except for Red Cap) and it has a flower in it. That flower was worn as a boutnieer (sp?) at my "prom" for Grade 13. Clearly both of those items are related and at the time - held special meaning for me.

Another item of note is pinned to the cork board over my desk - its the acceptance letter to Wilfrid Laurier University's Near Eastern Archaeology programme. A goal that I had been working towards since I was in grade 3.

Its amazing what a picture can preserve that is unintended. Clearly the focus of this picture was my grandfather - but the background material is just as illuminating. This blog has made me look at this picture more closely - and reflect on what was an exciting period in my life...the transition from high school to University...the transition from dependance on my parents to one of independance (or so I thought at the time). Somtimes I wish I could go back there - I wouldn't change a thing (well...maybe just a couple, but as a friend of mine reminded me the other day - "don't mess with time travel...nothing good will come of it).

Its Friday - so that means its off to the trailer - I will resume next week.

Until next time...

Loozing it in Amsterdam

Ok - well - I think I am just going to take pictures at "random" from the vast archive that I have created over the years. When I say archive...I mean, I have collected (either directly...or through scanning negatives and prints) well over 15,000 images. A bit excessive you say?! You are right...BUT....I think if most people went through all their photo albums, their parents albums, etc....they would find that they have a similar (if not way more) amount of photos.

Now - on to today's iteration. This photo was taken back in 2002, July 7th to be exact. In this photo is myself (sporting the biggest beard I have ever managed to grow) and one of my good friends, Annlee. We were in Amsterdam for a couple of days before heading "into the field" (Madaba, Jordan). I remember when this picture was taken - Annlee, Debra (another friend whom I am sure will eventually make their way onto this blog) and myself were playing cards (evidence on the table) in a cafe (!). Annlee orders this drink called "Looza"...(I just tried Google translate and I have no idea what the word actually means...or what language it even is). I thought that was funny - so I kept calling Annlee a "Looza" all night (which got very boring after a while and I was forced to stop).

Until tomorrow....

...in the beginning...

This picture is supposed to be the earliest one of me. Unfortunately I don't have any specific dates assocated with it. Obviously I am in my crib - and looking at the heater that is attached to the wall in the background it looks like my room in our first house in North York. So my best guess is that this picture was taken sometime in 1967 - after May for sure, perhaps as late as September/October - but I have no way of knowing.

Clearly I don't remember this picture being snapped - if I did...I think I would be a mutant! In fact - my childhood memories are very dim in my memory...a few stand out, but for the most part I have a hard time focusing in on the remote past. I don't know if that is normal or not - but thats the way it is with me. Nothing trumatic has ever really happened to me - so its not like I am blocking anything out.

Having said all that - when I look at this picture, it envokes more questions than answers. I have a big smile on (which is par for the course with me...I tend to be more happy than sad) - so something was pleasing me a the time (probably food!).

I don't know who took this picture but my guess would be either of my "uncle Jims" - they were always taking pictures of everything, but my own parents didn't have real passion for the camera - at least that is my recollection.

We all have baby pictures...and as parents we all take baby pictures. I wonder - what are we really trying to capture with that process? Is it purely to document the moment? the individual? I am not trying to be philosophical - but the thing about pictures is that the person taking the picture, does so for a particular reason - what's the reason for this picture...I have no idea since I wasn't the one taking it. Its like art criticism...when people come up with ideas in interpreting artwork (of which photography is a varient). Unless the artist (or in this case the photographer) explicitly documents the reasons...its up to the viewer to provide the answer. I find this process frustrating when I am looking at something becuase how I view it doesn't necessarily reflect what really "is".

Ok - I am rambling...but this was the first post for this blog, and I wanted it to be a good one (I think I failed on that....)

Until tomorrow!